Sleep in small cage, or main cage?

[CathnPoe]

Hello all,

So I place Poe into a small travel cage to sleep in. This is primarily because I can make it dark far more easily than my main cage, so he gets proper sleep.

The only issue is when I work late, then sleep in later, he throws a fit, flying in circles and screaming because I'm an hour late and he's been awake for too long without being let out.

If the room has remained dark and he hasn't been woken up by anyone else before hand, he's usually pretty good.

Just wondering what other people do/ what they've found to work better?

Cheers

 

[weco]

If Poe is comfortable in the cage, then by all means use it...especially if you get the extra hour of sleep.....

 

[Bird_Mom_to_Coby_the_GW]

I think I am in the minority but I personally don't cover Coby for bed. I keep a cover over the section of his cage that he always sleeps in (the back corner) all the time. That way he has his comfy, secure spot to nap during the day. As far as for night time he just goes to bed when I do and I turn out the light in the room. We never have any issue with sleep. This may not work for everyone but it works well for us.

 

[CathnPoe]

If Poe is comfortable in the cage, then by all means use it...especially if you get the extra hour of sleep.....

Touche.

 

[Blue]

I dont cover either and they sleep in their main cages... they do start calling if I dont get up early enough to let them out.

 

[Kern2012]

I cover my Cooper's cage just cause of the warmth factor and the privacy factor for her. She will let me know when to get up and let her out. But she will sleep in if no one wakes her up or she goes to bed alittle later then usual. I say if Poe is good with sleeping in the little cage I would put him in it and cover it and try not to wake him and he should do ok. Good luck and lets us know how it worked

 

[Jlong1989]

I don't cover my cages either. I just put the blinds down and turn off the light

 

[antoinette]

I have Mishka sleeping in my bedroom in his night cage, there he does not get disturbed. His day cage is way to big to cover anyway.

On weekends, when I want to sleep in the extra hour, and Mishka is awake, I give him a lollipop stick to chew, that keeps him occupied for just over an hour. I uncover him only after he has chewed the stick, and I have slept in.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I had thought of using a sleeping cage before, but Rosie is perfectly happy in her cage sleeping at night. She has a sleeping perch(a short dragon wood perch), After she's eaten enough so her crop is sticking out I cover her, turn off the main lights but I leave my fish lights on until I go to bed so it's not sudden complete darkness.

You should try leaving your bird in it's cage for a week and see how it works out, I'd guess he would probably be fine with it.

 

[CathnPoe]

Cheers everyone.
I think I'll stick to the small cage, but put a chewable toy in there (he doesn't use the "cuddle-buddy" anyway) to keep him amused if he wakes.

 

[Chikoo]

I cover cages. Otherwise, once the sun rises, the light will pour into the room and onto their cages and my female especially will start screaming, announcing her birdhood to the entire neighborhood. It's really terrible. After the first week of having her, I realized I couldn't have her sleep on a perch free in my bedroom. She needed her own space, and it needed to be dark, and it would be better if she woke up after sunset for the neighbors sake. So I put them to bed around 8 and uncover them around 9-9:30 the next morning. Don't hear a peep until then, works like a charm. I feel like they probably appreciate the rest in pure darkness as well.

 

[wenz2712]

I cover Codie and he sleeps in his main Cage.

 

[ProbablyHarrison]

What do you guys use as cage covers? What works best and what should be avoided?

 

[Chikoo]

Towels and bed sheets are what I use.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

What do you guys use as cage covers? What works best and what should be avoided?

I bought this stretchy black material at the fabric store that's kinda heavy but you can see through it if the room is light. It doesn't fray whatsoever.

 

[Turquoise]

I work nights 4 days on & 4 days off. On the nights I am home, I cover the top half of my macaw's aviary & my ekkie girls macaw size cage. On the nights I am at work, they don't get covered cause I leave for work at 3:30 pm. I do have lights on timers over each cage since I don't have much in way of windows to let light in.

On my days off I will uncover them when I get up which is not always at the same time. They have their lights on, so they go about their daily routine of playing & eating. Some mornings they are somewhat noisy & other days they are super quiet til they hear or see I am up.

On my ekkie cage I use thin blankets to cover halfway down & I leave the area the light shines in uncovered. She doesn't chew on her covers, so the blankets work well.

My macaw aviary is 5'X8'X7' so I had to be a bit creative to cover it. I strung heavy rope attached to the walls next to the ceiling on one long side & the front short side.The other two sides are against the wall. I then attached plastic shower curtains with the rings to slide across the rope. Where they meet at the corner I use a small clamp to hold them together. The shower curtains leave about a 2 ft. space at the floor uncovered and the light is above the aviary, so they get light in there even when covered. Now I do have to say I had to put the rope 1 1/2 ft out from the aviary sides. If Roscoe can get his drumsticks on the curtains, he chews peep holes in it.

 

[lpolliard]

I use a sleep cage in my bedroom closet. There is too much activity and light around Chico's day cage for him to settle down, even with it covered. He would just keep flock calling me even after everyone goes to bed. With the closet he is on a better sleep schedule and gets 11-12 hours a night. If he hears me he will flock call back but very infrequently.

 

[helijohn]

Isn't it a matter of what they get used to???

 

[CathnPoe]

Isn't it a matter of what they get used to???

Absolutely. But as Poe is still young, I was wanting to gather some opinions... which has led me back to the conclusion that the small sleeping cage is fine.

 

[antoinette]

Cheers everyone.
I think I'll stick to the small cage, but put a chewable toy in there (he doesn't use the "cuddle-buddy" anyway) to keep him amused if he wakes.

Great decision !!!!

I have a chain hanging in Mishka's night cage, (he loves chains) he actually suck it like a dummy. I often hear him sucking it during the night.